No Proof CNN Wanted to Replace Anchor with
Minority

November 28, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Members of a
federal jury in Atlanta said in post-trial interviews that
they found virtually no evidence that former anchor Marina
Kolbe had been let go as a roaming anchor for CNN
International in 2003 and subsequently rejected as a
freelancer because CNN wanted to replace her with a younger
or minority anchor.

Jurors told the Fulton County Daily Report that
memos between network executives outlining an aggressive
push by CNN to place minorities in designated jobs were
troubling, but were not enough to prove that CNN had
discriminated specifically against Kolbe, who is white,
and was 42 at the time CNN declined to renew her
contract.

The jurors also said they were not convinced that
the hiring of six anchors of South Asian origin in order
to tailor international broadcasts to a South Asian
audience influenced the network’s decision not to
renew Kolbe’s contract, the news report said.

However, jury forewoman Kathy Fuller told the
newspaper, “We think she [Kolbe] was treated badly.
… There was no question they [CNN] did her
wrong.”

CNN spokesman Nigel Pritchard told the Daily
Report, “We are obviously pleased with the
jury’s verdict. It not only shows that CNN does not
discriminate, but also validates CNN’s commitment to
diversity.”